In another well-reasoned article by William Kilpatrick (we may disagree with some of his tone, but his points are good), he alludes to a curious exchange of late between Robert Spencer, who runs Jihad Watch, and Monsignor Robert Swetland, on the apparently peaceful nature of Islam, following upon the Holy Father’s remarks to that effect. […]
Thus endeth the 2016 Rio Olympics, with their share of oddities, but without major mishap or terrorist attack, God be praised. Canada finished in the top ten of medal winning countries, so, with all of the caveats I have mentioned in the previous few articles, congratulations to all the athletes. One final word on […]
Chesterton wrote a book in 1912, which he called ‘What’s Wrong with the World’. In 2016, there is still a lot wrong with the world, but I will discuss just what is wrong with the modern university. To paraphrase an old warning, caveat discipulus, let the (prospective) student beware, and that goes for parents also […]
I suppose I am in the Olympic mood, but a couple of further thoughts on sports and athletics, which are on most people’s minds, not least in Canada, which won a gold medal yesterday in high jump, when Derek Drouin leapt over 2.38 metres, or just a tad over 7.8 feet. Impressive, if my anti-Olympic […]
While we’re on the theme of athletics, I came across an article claiming that men are 30% weaker now than they were even a scant 30 years ago. Not surprising, one may assume, as the article itself attests, given the increased sedentary nature of our lives, dominated by technology. Most jobs involve tapping upon a […]
It was reported the other day that it is now economically impossible for hydro rates to decrease in Ontario. You may wonder why, and if I can find the article again, I will link to it: The basic premise is that the Liberal government, under McGuinty and Wynne, have bound Ontarians to contracts with ‘green’ […]
The much-awaited Olympics is now upon us in Rio, a city in a country in a continent mired in unmanageable debt and corruption. Surrounded by poverty-stricken favelas, the city has poured billions into Olympic venues, security, advertisement, all to watch a few thousand overhyped young athletes strive to excel at their chosen sport. Don’t get […]
We are in the midst of an enigmatic papacy, and many Catholics know not how to respond to Pope Francis. Well, some think they do, and are rather vociferous in their comments, on either side of the spectrum. Just to be clear: When I write of the Pope, or the Church in general, my […]
I suppose Pope Francis is correct that we should not strictly identify Islam with terrorism, but a lot depends on how one defines ‘terrorism’. What are we to make of Islam’s decree of a death sentence on apostasy and blasphemy? Would that not count as ‘terrorism’, nothing else but coercion by violence? One does wonder. […]
Another Islamic massacre, this time of an octogenarian priest, Father Jacques Hamel, saying Mass in a church in Saint Etienne de Rouvray in the northwest of France. ISIS has claimed responsibility, with promises of more attacks ‘on churches’: These Islamists are nothing if not symbolic, with their own form of ‘liturgy’, working on behalf of […]